I think the one thing I pulled from this and could have been summed up quicker is that you need to consider how/where information you read comes from and (something you will be doing anyway) how/what you are about to use the information for.
The author uses the example of technical communications between members of the Nazi Regime. He claims that it is such an extreme case that it will make the points more clear. Anything less dramatic and the points would seem obscure or insignificant. I think I would disagree with him. The situation is so vastly unethical that it is hard to pull out how it is applying to technical communication. The author mostly seems to want to express his own personal vendetta, which is understandable but not helpful.
The ethical dilemma starts well before any inclination of technical communication arises. Therefore, the problem must be addressed there. There is nothing really to talk about here in terms of fixing communication. As the author points out, the examples given are of "technical excellence." Very nearly the German Officer is only using jargon to speak with a fellow expert on a common subject matter. He knows his audience!
The author discussion lead me to wonder whether euphemisms were unethical. That seems to be the only literary/technical device that the german office was using. "Induced Death" is an appalling term but (as Kant would say) any reasoning person can see what it means. Is it unethical in itself to change the term?
An interesting topic is brought up in this chapter about the classic "means that justify the ends." I think nowadays it is fairly common that this is not acceptable. Maybe only in the rarest or mildest set of circumstances.
The author cautions about an emphasis on technical objectivity. It is the path to unethical behavior. When the researcher distances himself from the subject it can lead to situation such as in the Nazi examples.
Indifference = abandonment of ethical principals
In the chapter there is also a discussion about whether information should be used once it is in existence if it was already obtained unethically. Nearly every school of thought points to the fact that it can only help people now and not harm anyone anymore. This is compared to the us law of "inadmissible evidence" which states that those facts cannot be used. The main defense of not using them is to dissuade further attempts at obtaining info unethically.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Dombroski Ch. 3
Overview - The chapter discusses the history and tradition of ethics. It is meant to display various perspectives about ethics so that we can better grasp our own perspective. It is mostly an overview itself. If you get too much in depth with any of the theories it can be lead to more confusion than clarity. Four main perspectives are discussed...
Aristotle
Metaphysical truths are the foundation for ethics. This means that in ethics only a certain level of precision can be reached (not exact science).
For an action/decision to be ethical it must be done for the "right" reason because and only because it is the "right" thing to do. If the "right" thing is done for not the right reason then the person is not truly ethical.
The human conflict is split between our tendencies toward animal and divine natures. Animal nature being our instinct to survive and divine nature being our higher ability to think and reason. In addition to this we are creatures of habit. These are the forces that weigh on our ethical judgment.
Ethical action is not singular but built up over time as a pattern. Also, it is not genetic, for to act genetically(instinctively) is to do the easiest/best for yourself. It is the power of reason over anger, pity, pain, and pleasure. The basis for morality is in removing self-interest.
The application to technical writing is not so much in the content but in how and when to use technical communication.
Kant
His perspective can be defined as deontology, based on duty. It is not based on the consideration of results or of emotions. He calls this the Categorical Imperative.
Reasoning is our distinguishing feature as humans. Reasoning is absolute and universal (that is, all humans can and do do it). Ethics is based on reasoning and therefore ethics is universal and absolute.
He thinks that we should act as if our actions will become the law that everyone will follow, everywhere, for all of time. This wll ensure that we make ethical decisions. This is practically the equivalent of the Golden Rule.
The underlying assumption here is the universality of it. Would everyone actually independently rationalize the exact same thing? I think not.
Utilitarianism
This perspective emphasizes usefulness and greater good. It became popular at the same time as the industrial revolution because of the new focus on the masses. it is associated with a cost and benefit rationalization for outcomes.
It holds that the people directly involved with the situation should decide for themselves. This makes me wonder if maybe the only unethical actions are ones that people don't get to chose things for themselves.
In the example of the airplane crash, the passengers accepted risk by choosing to fly.
Feminist
As we move from modernism to postmodernism and everyone begins to challenge to conventional logic this is when feminism rises. It is an advocate of complex variety and diverse opinion.
This section claims that the scientific method is advantageous to men because it tries to disassociate emotion from logic and women are naturally more emotional. It nearly literally states that women don't like to use logic.
Should ethics take a stance of gender-indifference and assume they are exactly the same or should it try to comprehensively incorporate the complexities of the perceived differences?
Ethics of Care
Assumes that there is a critical difference in male and female moral thinking. The female view is more concerned with the relationship of various parts while the male counterpart is concerned with the abstract and impersonal approach.
This is of course itself a stereotype. I would like to have seen examples of how each would work differently if at all in the same situation.
The ethics of care deals with what would mutually satisfy all parties. In other words, it is a symbiotic relationship and this occurs all throughout nature.
Confucian
The Chinese culture is highly concerned with collective entities such as family. They tend to subordinate the individual. One's place in the world is defined through your relationships. Not all relationships are equal. The family is more important the work group and therefore will take priority in making decisions.
Virtue can only be obtained through doing. There are no absolutes, it is based on immediate realities of the situation. Virtues are no ambiguous and can be learned from studying past examples.
Levinas
Understanding ethics is about having encounter with "the other" (anyone not you). It is responsive and responsible to them. Once we know they are there then we know that we are not alone in the universe and also that we are not the center of it. We begin to understand them and understand ethical action through reciprocal communication with them.
Gert
Morality should be more concerned with the avoidance of evil rather than the obtainment of good because good has more level of degree and variation. This is done through action, not feelings. He lays out a few primary rules (fairly obvious) such as: don't kill, don't harm, don't steal. He gives an actual system that is easy for people to follow rather than abstract thought.
Conclusion
Ethics is about how best to live our lives. Do we have ethical awareness? What would I do and why in a certain situation. What would someone else do and why in the same.
- Aristotle - inherent goodness
- Kant - Universal Principles
- Utilitarianism - Cost and Benefit
- Ethics of Care - No Universals, only particulars
Aristotle
Metaphysical truths are the foundation for ethics. This means that in ethics only a certain level of precision can be reached (not exact science).
For an action/decision to be ethical it must be done for the "right" reason because and only because it is the "right" thing to do. If the "right" thing is done for not the right reason then the person is not truly ethical.
The human conflict is split between our tendencies toward animal and divine natures. Animal nature being our instinct to survive and divine nature being our higher ability to think and reason. In addition to this we are creatures of habit. These are the forces that weigh on our ethical judgment.
Ethical action is not singular but built up over time as a pattern. Also, it is not genetic, for to act genetically(instinctively) is to do the easiest/best for yourself. It is the power of reason over anger, pity, pain, and pleasure. The basis for morality is in removing self-interest.
The application to technical writing is not so much in the content but in how and when to use technical communication.
Kant
His perspective can be defined as deontology, based on duty. It is not based on the consideration of results or of emotions. He calls this the Categorical Imperative.
Reasoning is our distinguishing feature as humans. Reasoning is absolute and universal (that is, all humans can and do do it). Ethics is based on reasoning and therefore ethics is universal and absolute.
He thinks that we should act as if our actions will become the law that everyone will follow, everywhere, for all of time. This wll ensure that we make ethical decisions. This is practically the equivalent of the Golden Rule.
The underlying assumption here is the universality of it. Would everyone actually independently rationalize the exact same thing? I think not.
Utilitarianism
This perspective emphasizes usefulness and greater good. It became popular at the same time as the industrial revolution because of the new focus on the masses. it is associated with a cost and benefit rationalization for outcomes.
It holds that the people directly involved with the situation should decide for themselves. This makes me wonder if maybe the only unethical actions are ones that people don't get to chose things for themselves.
In the example of the airplane crash, the passengers accepted risk by choosing to fly.
Feminist
As we move from modernism to postmodernism and everyone begins to challenge to conventional logic this is when feminism rises. It is an advocate of complex variety and diverse opinion.
This section claims that the scientific method is advantageous to men because it tries to disassociate emotion from logic and women are naturally more emotional. It nearly literally states that women don't like to use logic.
Should ethics take a stance of gender-indifference and assume they are exactly the same or should it try to comprehensively incorporate the complexities of the perceived differences?
Ethics of Care
Assumes that there is a critical difference in male and female moral thinking. The female view is more concerned with the relationship of various parts while the male counterpart is concerned with the abstract and impersonal approach.
This is of course itself a stereotype. I would like to have seen examples of how each would work differently if at all in the same situation.
The ethics of care deals with what would mutually satisfy all parties. In other words, it is a symbiotic relationship and this occurs all throughout nature.
Confucian
The Chinese culture is highly concerned with collective entities such as family. They tend to subordinate the individual. One's place in the world is defined through your relationships. Not all relationships are equal. The family is more important the work group and therefore will take priority in making decisions.
Virtue can only be obtained through doing. There are no absolutes, it is based on immediate realities of the situation. Virtues are no ambiguous and can be learned from studying past examples.
Levinas
Understanding ethics is about having encounter with "the other" (anyone not you). It is responsive and responsible to them. Once we know they are there then we know that we are not alone in the universe and also that we are not the center of it. We begin to understand them and understand ethical action through reciprocal communication with them.
Gert
Morality should be more concerned with the avoidance of evil rather than the obtainment of good because good has more level of degree and variation. This is done through action, not feelings. He lays out a few primary rules (fairly obvious) such as: don't kill, don't harm, don't steal. He gives an actual system that is easy for people to follow rather than abstract thought.
Conclusion
Ethics is about how best to live our lives. Do we have ethical awareness? What would I do and why in a certain situation. What would someone else do and why in the same.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Harty Part 4 part 2
Oliu, Brasaw, and Alred - Visuals
Plan all your visuals before you begin to write so that you have an idea about what will be going in and where. The types of visuals you might use are tables, graphs, drawings, charts, maps, and photographs. Include in the text why you have inserted the visual. This will help for clarity with the readers. Make sure that all the information in the visuals is accurate. This could destroy the success of the document. Consider what not to include in your visuals (such as arrows or boxes around text etc.). Make sure to define all terms and acronyms that appear. Also, units must be pointed out. Visuals must be readable and captioned if necessary. Number the diagrams for reference within the text. Finally, do the visuals stand out? You may want to leave enough white space so that the visuals pop off the page.
Tables - These are good for displaying numbers and specific data in a small amount of space. It is easy to compare different things because the info is in rows and columns. The table must have a title that is descriptive of what it displays. Boxheads are the subheadings which are split into different columns. Stubs are the categories that run in the other direction and when their rows cross the columns of the boxheads they create cells. Cells are where all the data is stored. Lines of separation are called rules and can make a table easier to read. If borrowing information from another source your table will require a source line for citation.
Graphs - These are more visual and easy to understand than tables but are less accurate and often need a table to accompany it. The different types are line, bar, pie, and picture. The line graph compares to figures by placing points on vertical and horizontal axises. You need to watch out for visual distortion by compressing the scale of the two different figures. The bar graph can incorporate data and eliminate the need for a table. The pie chart is a break down of percentages. Picture graphs are popular in presentations because of the entertainment value. 3-D bar graphs typically cause confusion and are harder to read.
Drawings - Consider the perspective and the proportion. Should be the same as someone looking at the object. Make sure to label drawings if necessary. Some types are explodes and cutaways which are things that pictures cant do.
Photographs - When thinking of including them consider the cost of printing and the quality of print. Should the image be in color? Is it necessary for the reader to understand'?
This segment basically advices the use of clipart going through the motions of selecting prompts from a software program. It is a little insulting.
David Ewing - Strategies of Persuasion
"Depends on the situation"
There are basically two ways to go about a persuasive argument. You can carefully examine both sides or you can get straight to the point. It is self-defeating to follow a set prescription.
1.consider if your views(the content) is a problem for the reader. This is the same as the lesson on delivering bad news. The situation must be dealt with empathy and tact.
2.Is the reader prepared for change? Similar to the first rule, you must prepare your reader for what you will tell them. Deal with these situations like you would oral communication.
3.Credibility can either be given or acquired. Given credibility comes from things like your title while acquired cred is gained from the writing by showing facts and thoughts. Credibility can also be borrowed by citation.
4.Present both sides and acknoledge the shortcoming of your idea. This is an example of candor and will connect your more with your audience.
5.Never conclude with maybe, give a definite opinion or nothing will happen
6.Put your strong points first if the reader is uninterested or your strong points last if the reader is interested. This is just a theory because it has had inconclusive results in research but still something to consider.
7.Don't just appeal to their logic, it will not persuade.
8.The reader must associate with the people giving testimonials or they will not work.
9.Be wary of using exagerations or sensational statements because you may lose your reader
10.Tailor the presentation to the attitude of the reader. If they are a fan of something, also be a fan of it.
11.If you mention someone in the writing, consider how they are related to anyone reading it and what the effects might be.
Think of readers as real people
Philip Kolin - Proposals
Some quick guidelines to think before writing are the you are a problem solver, your audience is a skeptical one, research your topic, make sure the proposal is feasible, and the appearance does count.
Internal - usually meant to improve the efficiency of the company. Consider what office politics might come into play. It is organized into an introduction, background, plan, and conclusion. Quantifiable data is preferable to generalizations. make sure the context is known.
Sales - These are more external proposals and the reader should be viewed as even more skeptical. The two main concerns of the reader are 1. does this meet my need and 2.how does this compare with the competition. Write these with the "you attitude". That means talking directly to the reader and having their best interest in mind. It is organized into and introduction, description of product or service, timtable, costs, qualifications, and conclusion. Costs must be accurate and be sure not to underestimate them because it could come back to haunt you. Also, do not misrepresent your qualifications. The conclusions should have some "call to action" and let the reader know what they need to do next.
Richard Johnson - Style
Style can be considered the tone and phrasing of your writing as well as the flow. Good style cannot however hide a lack of content or can ruin good content. There are three main kinds of style: plain, middle, and grand. Most proposals will be written in a plain style. This starts with plain sentences. remember the parts of a sentence: subject, verb, and comment. There are a few guides to writing plain sentences.
Passive voice is not always bad. it can be used when the doer is not really important or the subject itself is the most important part of the sentence. It is also good for a variety in the writing.
Plan all your visuals before you begin to write so that you have an idea about what will be going in and where. The types of visuals you might use are tables, graphs, drawings, charts, maps, and photographs. Include in the text why you have inserted the visual. This will help for clarity with the readers. Make sure that all the information in the visuals is accurate. This could destroy the success of the document. Consider what not to include in your visuals (such as arrows or boxes around text etc.). Make sure to define all terms and acronyms that appear. Also, units must be pointed out. Visuals must be readable and captioned if necessary. Number the diagrams for reference within the text. Finally, do the visuals stand out? You may want to leave enough white space so that the visuals pop off the page.
Tables - These are good for displaying numbers and specific data in a small amount of space. It is easy to compare different things because the info is in rows and columns. The table must have a title that is descriptive of what it displays. Boxheads are the subheadings which are split into different columns. Stubs are the categories that run in the other direction and when their rows cross the columns of the boxheads they create cells. Cells are where all the data is stored. Lines of separation are called rules and can make a table easier to read. If borrowing information from another source your table will require a source line for citation.
Graphs - These are more visual and easy to understand than tables but are less accurate and often need a table to accompany it. The different types are line, bar, pie, and picture. The line graph compares to figures by placing points on vertical and horizontal axises. You need to watch out for visual distortion by compressing the scale of the two different figures. The bar graph can incorporate data and eliminate the need for a table. The pie chart is a break down of percentages. Picture graphs are popular in presentations because of the entertainment value. 3-D bar graphs typically cause confusion and are harder to read.
Drawings - Consider the perspective and the proportion. Should be the same as someone looking at the object. Make sure to label drawings if necessary. Some types are explodes and cutaways which are things that pictures cant do.
Photographs - When thinking of including them consider the cost of printing and the quality of print. Should the image be in color? Is it necessary for the reader to understand'?
This segment basically advices the use of clipart going through the motions of selecting prompts from a software program. It is a little insulting.
David Ewing - Strategies of Persuasion
"Depends on the situation"
There are basically two ways to go about a persuasive argument. You can carefully examine both sides or you can get straight to the point. It is self-defeating to follow a set prescription.
1.consider if your views(the content) is a problem for the reader. This is the same as the lesson on delivering bad news. The situation must be dealt with empathy and tact.
2.Is the reader prepared for change? Similar to the first rule, you must prepare your reader for what you will tell them. Deal with these situations like you would oral communication.
3.Credibility can either be given or acquired. Given credibility comes from things like your title while acquired cred is gained from the writing by showing facts and thoughts. Credibility can also be borrowed by citation.
4.Present both sides and acknoledge the shortcoming of your idea. This is an example of candor and will connect your more with your audience.
5.Never conclude with maybe, give a definite opinion or nothing will happen
6.Put your strong points first if the reader is uninterested or your strong points last if the reader is interested. This is just a theory because it has had inconclusive results in research but still something to consider.
7.Don't just appeal to their logic, it will not persuade.
8.The reader must associate with the people giving testimonials or they will not work.
9.Be wary of using exagerations or sensational statements because you may lose your reader
10.Tailor the presentation to the attitude of the reader. If they are a fan of something, also be a fan of it.
11.If you mention someone in the writing, consider how they are related to anyone reading it and what the effects might be.
Think of readers as real people
Philip Kolin - Proposals
Some quick guidelines to think before writing are the you are a problem solver, your audience is a skeptical one, research your topic, make sure the proposal is feasible, and the appearance does count.
Internal - usually meant to improve the efficiency of the company. Consider what office politics might come into play. It is organized into an introduction, background, plan, and conclusion. Quantifiable data is preferable to generalizations. make sure the context is known.
Sales - These are more external proposals and the reader should be viewed as even more skeptical. The two main concerns of the reader are 1. does this meet my need and 2.how does this compare with the competition. Write these with the "you attitude". That means talking directly to the reader and having their best interest in mind. It is organized into and introduction, description of product or service, timtable, costs, qualifications, and conclusion. Costs must be accurate and be sure not to underestimate them because it could come back to haunt you. Also, do not misrepresent your qualifications. The conclusions should have some "call to action" and let the reader know what they need to do next.
Richard Johnson - Style
Style can be considered the tone and phrasing of your writing as well as the flow. Good style cannot however hide a lack of content or can ruin good content. There are three main kinds of style: plain, middle, and grand. Most proposals will be written in a plain style. This starts with plain sentences. remember the parts of a sentence: subject, verb, and comment. There are a few guides to writing plain sentences.
- the subject is what the sentence is about
- the does is the subject
- action in the verb (active language)
- subject early in sentence
- no nominalizations (when verbs become known and make long unnecessary words)
- avoid excessive prepositional phrases
- eliminate redundancy (not too many modifiers)
- Sentences should be breathing length (best to vary length)
Passive voice is not always bad. it can be used when the doer is not really important or the subject itself is the most important part of the sentence. It is also good for a variety in the writing.
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